SOUTHINGTON â€“ The Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAâ€™s 9th Annual Healthy Family Fun Fest is bringing a carnival for kids and a wealth of health facts and resources for parents to the Aqua Turf Club Feb. 25.

The free event, sponsored by Hartford HealthCare Senior Services, will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the banquet facility at 556 Mulberry St. The YMCA will be filling every room with childrenâ€™s games and booths where people can play games to win prizes, take screenings and learn how to stay healthy. There will also be tours inside of firetrucks and a LIFESTAR helicopter.

John Myers, executive director of the Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA, said that 3,500 to 4,000 people have come to the event in past years.

â€śPeople usually have Cabin Fever around this time of year and theyâ€™re looking to get out of the house and have fun,â€ť he said. â€śThereâ€™s something for all ages. There will be a kidâ€™s zone with obstacle courses, face painting, carnival games and costumed Star Wars characters for the children. Itâ€™s like Halloween in February. When we first held this, we didnâ€™t know how successful it would be, but it has grown steadily since. Hartford HealthCare has been very supportive.â€ť

Myers said that will also be between 60 and 70, mostly local, vendors, who will be offering pamphlets, blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and vision screenings. Among them will be LEAF (Lewis Educational Agriculture Farm), local chiropractors and non-profits.

â€śOne thing that many parents, in particular, may find useful is that the Southington Police Department will be doing seat belt demonstrations to show how to properly secure car seats,â€ť said Myers. â€śTheyâ€™ve shown me the figures for how many people donâ€™t know how to do it properly and the numbers are just astounding.â€ť

Myers encouraged families who had never been to the Health Family Fun Fest to experience it for themselves.

â€śItâ€™s a good, family experience and youâ€™ll learn a lot while youâ€™re there,â€ť he said. â€śThereâ€™s a lot of energy and itâ€™s a great way to break out of the winter doldrums.â€ť

Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.